Opinion Release: The Clerk's Office typically releases opinions at 11 a.m. each Thursday. Court staff posts them to this website as soon as possible thereafter. There will be times when opinions may be released outside of this schedule, such as in emergencies. Scheduled and unscheduled opinion releases are announced via Twitter @flcourts.

In the Supreme Court, use of the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal is mandatory for attorneys in good standing with The Florida Bar in compliance with Rule 2.525, Fla. R. Jud. Admin., and Administrative Order AOSC13-7.

The Court makes available many different forms of information about cases. The most common way to find information about a case is to review the case’s docket -- a list of briefs and other filings and rulings in that case.

Observing Oral Arguments

Oral arguments at the Florida Supreme Court are held once a month and open to the public. Please check the Oral Argument Schedule for dates and times. Additionally, please review the Argument Case Summaries for more details about each case. Some cases may not be appropriate for young audiences.

What to ExpectArguments in most cases last approximately 40 minutes (20 minutes each side), although some cases – including death penalty cases – are given additional time. For most argument sessions, four cases are scheduled with a short break (10 minutes) in between the second and third case. The Court prefers that visitors be seated in the courtroom before oral arguments begin. If visitors arrive during an oral argument, security personnel will determine the best break to escort visitors into the courtroom.

Front Entrance ScreeningVisitors will each pass through a screening device upon entering the building and adults will be asked to present a driver's license.

Cell PhonesCell phones are not permitted in the courtroom and will need to be checked at the main entrance security checkpoint.

Laptops and TabletsLaptops and tablets are permitted in the courtroom so long as they are set to silent mode. Anyone attending oral arguments with a device that makes noise will be asked to leave.

Courtroom CapacityThe courtroom accommodates up to 165 visitors on a first come, first served basis and once that capacity has been reached, visitors will be directed to overflow rooms to watch oral arguments on television.

Quick Tips:

No appointment is necessary to observe an argument, however, large groups and persons that need an accommodation* are asked to notify the Marshal's Office at (850) 488-8845. There is limited availability during the legislative session (spring) so please schedule groups several months in advance.

Arrive early. If you arrive late, court security will determine the best break to escort visitors into the courtroom.

Subscribe to receive Florida Supreme Court opinions.A message will be sent to your email account for the regular calendar releases each Thursday morning and for out-of-calendar releases issued in expedited cases. The message will include a link to the full text of the opinions on our website.